Illini West School Board Makes Employment Decisions

The Illini West Board of Education recently approved employment of Alan Draper as an additional English teacher and David Miller as an additional Math teacher for the 2008-2009 school year. These additions are being made in order to reduce the student/teacher ratio to provide additional assistance to students in these CORE academic areas.

Joyce Gronewold has also been employed as a full-time school psychologist. Ms. Gonewold's duties will go beyond typical testing and placement to include duties involving being a member of the PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention System) Team, Special Education Coordinator, and Coordinator of I-WIN Team.

All of these positions are intended to utilize positive intervention strategies with the intended outcome of improving student achievement and school climate.

Rosa Hausch was employed as a part-time Spanish teacher; and Teresa Russell was hired as Mr. Driskell's, secretary. Mr. Joshua Clements accepted the position of full-time district technology coordinator and started his duties on May 27th.

The board is exploring many options and suggestions to improve quality of student life at Illini West based on parent and teacher recommendations. The Board of Education approved the student handbook, and extra-curricular handbook that were revised in a cooperative effort by parents, teachers and administration this spring.

The board also approved purchasing computers for two new computer labs to be utilized for instruction this fall. Joshua Clements recommended using nComputing, a new program that allows sharing one PC with up to four users, thereby making efficient use of unused computing capacity. This technology will provide considerable cost savings to the district.

A discussion was held regarding the food service program currently available to Illini West students.

The preliminary cost estimates for the cafeteria program is prompting an examination and review of all possible options regarding the cafeteria program.

Preliminary reimbursement costs to the Carthage Elementary District are indicating a significant loss of money to the IW School District. Mr. Driskell will be investigating a variety of companies with regard to providing meals through hot or cold food vending machines. The board is seeking restaurants or food service companies interested in the feasibility of providing meals for Illini West students, contact the school as soon as possible.